MAC STUDIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mhschmieder]

Yep, this is the Mac I've been waiting for, but my 2017 iMac will be good for a while yet. I'll look forward to this as my next Mac though.

Super-busy and long 12-hour day at the office today, so I didn't see or hear any news, but instead found out via this article from Mix in my email box:

https://www.mixonline.com/technology/ne ... 0c0560acd5

Not sure if that's identical to the press blurb or if the Mix editors wrote up their own take on the new desktop computer.

[James Steele]

I just ordered an Ultra
64GB Ram
2TBHD

Mid-April delivery.

I'm GREEN with envy!!

[James Steele]

This will likely be the last big desktop computer I will buy and I just may go with the Ultra in an effort to future-proof my investment.

I'm thinking along the same lines. At the very least, this machine will almost certainly last until my ears wear out.

PS: Unless you know someone at Apple, don't forget about the education store, folks. It just so happens, my daughter is in a Master's program at the moment...

You don't suppose I could adopt her temporarily, do you?

[HCMarkus]

This will likely be the last big desktop computer I will buy and I just may go with the Ultra in an effort to future-proof my investment.

I'm thinking along the same lines. At the very least, this machine will almost certainly last until my ears wear out.

PS: Unless you know someone at Apple, don't forget about the education store, folks. It just so happens, my daughter is in a Master's program at the moment...

You don't suppose I could adopt her temporarily, do you?

Well, she IS married, so, not sure.

As for the "green with envy"... your envy is greener than my wallet at this point.

[James Steele]

Here's one thing I'd like to know when these machines roll out: will the internal SSD be user upgradeable. If somehow a company like OWC figures out how and has kits, then might make sense to be with the smallest SSD available and then upgrade the SSD yourself and save some bucks. Obviously RAM is not user upgradeable. So again, might be possible to max the RAM and then go as small as possible on the SSD.

[HCMarkus]

Here's one thing I'd like to know when these machines roll out: will the internal SSD be user upgradeable. If somehow a company like OWC figures out how and has kits, then might make sense to be with the smallest SSD available and then upgrade the SSD yourself and save some bucks. Obviously RAM is not user upgradeable. So again, might be possible to max the RAM and then go as small as possible on the SSD.

I doubt the internal SSD will ever be upgradeable. External TB storage is always available.

BTW, not meaning to "talk out of school," but I just checked the Apple site and didn't notice any qualification hoops to get into the edu store. Just sayin', adoption may be unnecessary...

[HCMarkus]

I'll be putting my PCIe SSD in one of these: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB3ENVXP00

[James Steele]

As for the "green with envy"... your envy is greener than my wallet at this point.

Yeah well. Honestly, I haven't been this inspired by a new Mac in a long, long time. I do have an unused Apple Credit card and I noticed they are offering one year financing on these machines at 0%. Last time I bought a Mac on credit was my SE and it cost $2500 in 1989 if I remember the year right. The computer lust is so strong with the Mac Studio, I may go into debt for this one.

As an aside, if you watched the live presentation, Apple must have spent a @#$%^ ton of money on that double decker set in the background with live actors portraying all the scenarios one would use the Mac Studio in. But again, this is FINALLY an inspiring Mac that seems to leapfrog the performance of Intel machines based on the new Apple chips.

Don't know if I really can responsibly swing an Ultra right now. But then, I would probably wise to delay the urge for instant gratification and muddle through with my Cheesegrater. Then again, given the astounding performance gains, now really might be the time to try and dump the cheesegrater used for whatever I can get for it. Although, a 12-core 5,1 could make a viable VEP host, but with the kind of performance these new machines offer, how many people will realistically NEED VEP host computers? maybe the orchestral mockup guys, but I'm not one of them.

[James Steele]

Here's one thing I'd like to know when these machines roll out: will the internal SSD be user upgradeable. If somehow a company like OWC figures out how and has kits, then might make sense to be with the smallest SSD available and then upgrade the SSD yourself and save some bucks. Obviously RAM is not user upgradeable. So again, might be possible to max the RAM and then go as small as possible on the SSD.

I doubt the internal SSD will ever be upgradeable. External TB storage is always available.

BTW, not meaning to "talk out of school," but I just checked the Apple site and didn't notice any qualification hoops to get into the edu store. Just sayin', adoption may be unnecessary...

I thought you had to prove that you were attending a college of some sort? Suddenly I feel the urge to enroll (and subsequently drop) a class at my local community college.

[James Steele]

I'll be putting my PCIe SSD in one of these: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB3ENVXP00

That's cool. I have the 2.5" form factor SSDs that go in the drive bays. I think Mike mentioned they make external cases that hold more than one at a time? I do have one of those ones that are sort of like a toaster where you can pop drives in and out, but not really intended for that exact purpose. It's also USB 3, which I guess there are TB to USB3 adapters. That's probably fast enough for audio purposes.

If I do this at some point, probably will have to put Sample Libraries on an external as the bloody Kontakt libraries end up taking up massive amounts of space. Ugh... well good thing I can't really do this right away as I've got lots of planning to do in terms of integrating a Mac Studio in to my studio.

[hammerman]

This does look absolutely amazing but I am still holding out for the Apple Silicon Mac Pro. Why? Because the Mac Studio is a closed system. I'm currently rocking a 2010 6-core 5,1 Mac Pro. I can't believe all the latest software (except running Mojave) runs so well on this. It does bog down with lots of VI's and some processes of RX9 take time so it's more about faster and more fluid workflow. I figure I can get 7 or 8 years out of a Mac Studio and at least 10 years out of a Mac Pro. I guess I like to hold onto a system for awhile because it's such a pain to upgrade! I need a new interface as well because my MOTU 1296 runs off a 32 bit PCI card. Another thing that irks me is the maximum length of a thunderbolt cable to go between monitor and computer. I have an unusual system where my monitor lives on a rolling cart that I move around depending on my needs. It does look like there are optical thunderbolt cables as a solution though I don't know if it will give me maximum throughput. To sum up, the Mac Studio is indeed overkill for music production and would serve my needs for a long time. It is very, very tempting! But...I...can...wait....a...little....longer......

[tremo]

I have the 2.5" form factor SSDs that go in the drive bays. I think Mike mentioned they make external cases that hold more than one at a time?

James, I bought one of these last year, anticipating a Mini (now Studio) purchase this spring. I'll just transfer my four 2.5" SSDs into this case when I get the new machine. A bit pricey ($249), but I just figured it's part of the new computer cost.

It does have a fan, and it's pretty quiet. I've read of some people disconnecting the fan, saying it's not need for SSDs, but that's kinda scary...

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB3QMJB000/

[wylie1]

Well that was a quick 3.5k in Canadian Pesos.
Apple M1 Max with 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
64GB unified memory
1TB SSD storage
At least there was the 0% interest option.
If it holds up as well as my 2008 Mac Pro it should out live me.

[gavspen]

I want you all to know that the release of this Mac Studio line is only happening because finally, after months, nay years, of procrastination, I just bought a Mac mini M1 to replace my 2008 Mac Pro.

You're welcome

Gavin

[Gate 13]

I want you all to know that the release of this Mac Studio line is only happening because finally, after months, nay years, of procrastination, I just bought a Mac mini M1 to replace my 2008 Mac Pro.

You're welcome

Gavin

Lol....I know exactly what you mean....Murphy's Law!